Seymour schools want staff, student feedback

SEYMOUR  The school system is asking parents, residents, school staff and students to complete a new survey evaluating the systems strengths and weaknesses.

Published 12:00 am, Friday, December 19, 2003

The five-page survey is part of the school systems Strategic Planning Initiative, an effort designed to shape the schools goals and priorities for the next five years. The survey is available at all five of the town schools, the school districts central offices, the public library, senior center, Town Hall and on the Web at www.seymourschools.com. Completed surveys will be accepted at any of the nine locations through Dec.

30.

Respondents will rate the school systems quality of education, safety, standardized test performance, quality of staff, tax burden to the town and more.

"The survey will bring back information we can use," said MaryAnne Mascolo, assistant superintendent of schools. "Its good to know what youre doing well and what you need to improve."

The questions were taken from similar surveys and sculpted to fit Seymours needs by nine committees, said Mascolo.

"There are 10 people on each committee so, in effect, we got input from 90 people in shaping these questions," she said.

The committees will likely discuss the findings of the survey with the Board of Education early next year, Mascolo said. Data collected will also be incorporated in the overall strategic plan, she said.

The strategic planning initiative is designed to line up the school districts goals and objectives with its resources, school officials have said. In particular, it aims to deal with federal education mandates included in President Bushs No Child Left Behind Act, officials said.